It matters because the influx of ppl from different countries coupled with declining birth rate will naturally lead to a significant shift in our demographics, culture and political landscape.
It is a grievous oversight to assume that culture will sustain itself effortlessly. Cultures must be nurtured, preserved and actively upheld in order to endure through the ages.
If those who care about feminism, LGB rights and environmentalism don't have children the future of Britain will possibly be less feminist and less environmentalist and less LGB friendly. Maybe even anti-feminist, anti-environmentalist and anti-LGB. Communities that hold opposing views are already continuing to grow in number.
Re those who mention previous waves of migration in the UK through the ages + implying there are no real british people. While I mostly agree re use of the term indigenous, there is a distinct genetic lineage of the British population that has evolved over centuries. Over time the British people have established a Christian based culture (even if many of it today exists unconsciously – it exists) that will crumble under the weight of unintegrated cultures with higher birth rates. Many of our societal systems rely on the unconscious acceptance of Christian principles eg the English political tradition. In the West, Christian principles have led to a clear distinction between church and state, while in some societies, religious and political authority may be more intertwined take for example Sharia law and shape legal systems.
If we had lower birth rates to contend with alone, we could gradually increase them over time, as history has shown during times of war. However, we are now living on the same island with much more people from different cultures that may not align with traditional British values, that are maintaining replacement-level birth rates while our own rates are rapidly declining.
How do we combat this?
I don't know how we combat this. But I do think instilling fear and pressuring women into rushing into childbirth, as the men in Manosphere podcasts might advocate, would only exacerbate existing social issues like DV & poverty.
One potential solution could be to explore a feminist approach that places greater emphasis on the value of Motherhood. As well as policies to help women balance their careers and family aspirations. I think we could benefit from normalising women to return to careers later in life so that those who want to can prioritise starting a family over career advancement.
On a more personal note, I'm one of those unintended childless womwn in my nearly mid 30s who prioritiswd my career over starting a family. Feminism needs to acknowledge that not all women can delay motherhood and still easily conceive in their 30s. We need to strike a balance that allows women to choose their careers without assuming fertility will always be there.
Soz for the essay. 🫖